MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Issue 14

IMPROVING THE LIVES, COMMUNITIES, AND ECONOMY IN MARICOPA COUNTY IN THIS ISSUE

Photo Credit: Unknown Source

Maricopa County

Cooperative Extension

November 2016

Want green grass? Paint it!

By Kai Umeda

Did you get too busy or forgot to overseed your winter lawn? Do you want to take a break from the routine of mowing, fertilizing, and irrigating an overseeded turfgrass this winter? In our desert south-west, the bermudagrass turf becomes dormant and turns straw-colored when frosty nights occur around November – December. The “blonde” bermudagrass lawn can still become an instant green field of dreams.

In the last seven years, since we began to explore the use of colorants on golf greens in Arizona, manufacturers have improved and expanded the availability of different colors for turf uses. The improved green colors can closely match the authentic look of dark ryegrass to bluish bermudagrass. Exclusive colors for golf greens can differ from those on fairways to offer a contrast when looking from a tee. Colorants applied to golf greens beginning in the late fall can be sprayed multiple times during the winter to maintain the required aesthetic appearance.

A single application of a paint product should provide a green surface for about 4-6 weeks. In colorant comparison

experiments, the darker green colored turf showed an increase in surface temperatures by 2 to 3°F versus the untreated “blonde” bermudagrass surface. Boosting the soil temperatures encourages the bermudagrass to initiate new growth earlier in February – March.

The paints that were evaluated and compared on golf greens contained binding agents to enhance adhering, which allowed it to last longer on the turfgrass leaf surface. There are dyes or pigments that are less viscous without the binding agents and they require more frequent applications, almost weekly to maintain desirable color.

When comparing the economics of coloring lawns versus overseeding, consider the differences in material costs – paint versus seed as well as fertilizer costs. Rough estimates of multiple season-long golf green coloring experiments, from four years ago, ranged from $200 to $2,400 per acre. Last but not least, water conservation would be achieved since a dormant lawn would require minimal irrigation during the winter to maintain moisture in the bermudagrass rootzone.

Comparisons of colorants on a golf green near Camelback Mountain.

Volunteer Spotlight: Marianna Hancin

Event Spotlight: Fall Festival & Plant Sale

Walk Our Children to School Day

MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Issue 14 2

Walk Our Children to School Day

By Paula Barr Skillicorn, Betty Thompson, Anne Cimarelli-Stears

More than 700 Phoenix children, their parents, and their teachers promoted

the health benefits of walking by heading to school on foot as part of the

October 5, 2016, Fuel Up To Play 60 kickoff event at Justine Spitalny

Elementary School. The school incorporated Fuel Up To Play 60 into Walk to

School Day to provide a physical activity component for the kickoff.

In addition to the morning walk through the neighborhood, the event included

festivities organized with the help of the Maricopa County Cooperative

Extension’s University of Arizona Nutrition Network (UANN) team. Team

members Betty Thompson, Health Educator Sr., and Maricela Garcia,

Instructional Specialist Sr., met with school officials, teachers, and others in

the community to plan the event.

Betty and Maricela joined fellow UANN team members, Sarah Lane, Anne Cimarelli-Stears, and Lupe Reyes in offering two of the

seven field events at the kickoff. They brought the popular Blender Bike, which students pedaled to make healthy smoothies. The

UANN team also provided 100 percent fruit juice tastings.

The team appreciated the help of Cartwright SD 83 Health & Wellness Administrator Rosie Espinoza, who assisted at the UANN Booth.

The kickoff event began with a walk from Orme Park to the school. In honor of their tiger mascot, Spitalny students wore orange

tie-dyed t-shirts and teachers and staff wore tiger ears. The Spitalny Tiger joined the students and the Maryvale High School Band

played spirited tunes to raise everyone’s energy level. The Arizona Cardinals’ mascot, Big Red, greeted students at the finish line and

Phoenix Mayor, Greg Stanton, spoke to the youth after the walk. Mayor Stanton and Big Red led the youth in a Cupid Shuffle dance

session. The festivities included a healthy breakfast and many outdoor field activities.

Walk Our Children to School Day is designed to promote the benefits of walking and raise awareness of changes needed to create

safe walking places. Spitalny Elementary School, the City of Phoenix, and The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the

morning walk. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a nutrition and physical activity program in schools that was started by the National Dairy Council

and the National Football League in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture. The program was created to help

encourage youth to lead healthier lives. Cartwright School District includes Walk to School Day and Fuel Up to Play 60 as components

in its local wellness plan.

Issue 14 3 MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Event Spotlight: Master Gardener Fall Festival

FAST FACT

Event Spotlight:

Fall Festival and Plant Sale Celebrated Fun, Sun, and a Love of Gardening

By Julie Knapp & Yvonne Cooper

More than 750 community members

attended a great day of fall festivities and

funshine at this year’s Annual Fall Festival

and Plant Sale event. This year’s Fall

Festival and Plant Sale event was hosted

by the Maricopa County Master Gardener

program in collaboration with the Metro

Tech High School located at 1900 W.

Thomas in Phoenix, AZ. The day’s events

included a plant sale, vendor sales, and a

treasure of rummage items. Plants were

propagated and donated by volunteer

Master Gardeners. Unique vendor items

included a beautiful variety of garden art,

handmade soaps, and unique succulents.

Green Living Magazine was represented

with the latest magazine edition and the

promotion of sustainable living. Fun and

educational exhibits presented by Master

Gardeners and program Interns included

How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden,

Vegetable Gardening, and Composting.

A hands-on exhibit, Making-a-Paper-Pot

and Planting Seeds, helped children

explore the wonders of gardening.

This annual event remains at the heart of

the Master Gardener program mission.

“The mission of the Maricopa County

Master Gardeners is to teach people to

select, place, and care for plants in an

environmentally responsible manner

based on research specific to the low

desert,” said University of Arizona’s,

Certified Master Gardener Kathy Hill,

co-chair of the Fall Festival. “In keeping

with this, the most accessible way for us

to reach the public is through community

events like the Fall Festival.” Co-chair

Kathy Hill reminds us all that Master

Gardener volunteers and interns who

made this event successful, “deserve a big

pat on the back, a huge hug, and heartfelt

thank you.”

Festival patrons purchased donated plants

while Master Gardener experts offered

advice on proper plant placement,

instillation, and care. At the day’s end,

all unsold plants were donated to the

Arizona State Prison – Perryville in

support of beautification projects by a

newly created horticulture class.

As usual, this annual event provided

a wonderful day of comradery among

shoppers, gardeners, and family strollers.

“This year’s proceeds provided

approximately $3,000. These monies go to

providing program staff support, help desk

technology, books, seeds, printing, and all

things necessary that make the Maricopa

County Master Gardener program a model

for other programs throughout the United

States,” says Kelly Young, Assistant Agent,

Agroecology, University of Arizona

Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County.

Thank you to all who attended and shared

in this community event!

Master Gardener Training The next Maricopa County Master Gardener Training will take place in January 2017. To register and for more information, visit: http://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa-county-master-gardener-training-winter-session-2017

Publications Free University of Arizona gardening publications are available at: http://extension.arizona.edu/pubs

Nearly 500 The Maricopa County Master Gardener

program has nearly 500 active

Certified Master Gardeners.

MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Issue 14 4

With hundreds of volunteer hours

logged, some of Marianna's MG activi-

ties include mentoring new intern clas-

ses (at least six times), co-directing the

Northwest Valley MG office for six

years, MG Advisory Board Member

(Liaison to the Fall Festival) for four

years, and has served on the planning

committee for the Real Gardens for Real

People garden tour numerous times.

Marianna was born in Springfield,

Missouri. The oldest of five children,

Marianna was a shy child whose parents

were both veterans of WWII. Her world

travels started in childhood. A

self-described "Navy brat," she and her

family moved to New Orleans, several

places in California, Ohio, and even

spent a couple of years in Japan. She

returned to Japan in the fall of 2015 to

visit friends. These same friends have

since relocated to Alaska, and a trip

there may be in her not too distant

future. For now, though, she is gearing

up for a trip to South Africa in October.

She'll visit Cape Town where she'll

watch whales from her hotel room and

visit the National Botanical Gardens.

She will then head north of

Johannesburg to a private game

preserve where she'll stay in luxury

tents and take twice daily trips to see

animals in the wild.

When Marianna's father retired from

the service, he decided to move the

family to Phoenix. For the first time, the

family was settled with a home they

owned rather than rented. There was a

large yard with which Marianna's

parents had little interest, and it was

here that Marianna's love for gardening

was born. She planted trees and

flowering bushes and shrubs, some of

which lived, but many failed. Years

later, her curiosity about desert

gardening would lead her to the UA

program we all know and love.

Marianna is retired now, but for 40

years, she was a librarian in the Phoenix

valley. After graduating from college,

she took a job as a typist in the Arizona

State Law Library, fell in love with

everything the library had to offer, and

got an advanced degree as a librarian.

She was a law librarian for 15 years,

working with Governor Bruce Babbitt

and numerous state legislators, doing

mostly legal research. A highlight for

Marianna was seeing Sandra Day

O'Connor come to the library to be

photographed against the backdrop of

huge murals depicting Arizona history

during her nomination process.

Marianna went on to work at the

Glendale Public Library for 25 years, and

it was there that she learned about the

Master Gardener Program.

Advertisements for the Maricopa

County Master Gardening Classes

appeared in the Glendale Library, and

Marianna finally decided, "I'm just going

to do this!" Her hunger to learn later led

her to take the 9-month Desert

Landscape School at Desert Botanical

Garden. She learned more about arid

gardening and developed an

appreciation for agaves and aloes; her

favorites being agave titanota and

agave macroacantha. Today, in addition

to her MG activities, Marianna is a

devoted member of the Central Arizona

Cactus and Succulent Society.

Marianna's advice to newly graduating

MG interns is this, "Don' be afraid to try

something new. Try a variety of

volunteer jobs. Learn everything you

can about the program. Attend advance

training. Shadow experienced MGs. Be a

mentor. Sit in on the classes again.

You'll have an amazing opportunity to

influence and encourage others.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Marianna Hancin The goal of the Volunteer Spotlight article is to recognize the exemplary

volunteers who demonstrate the values and mission of Maricopa County

Cooperative Extension in the community in which they live.

Marianna Hancin, a Master Gardener

since 1999, is our volunteer spotlight.

Marianna Hancin, a dedicated

Master Gardener.

The Director’s Cut Fall has finally arrived and we are getting much By Ed Martin needed relief with the cooler morning temperatures.

This means it’s time to start planting our vegetables. Check out our Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County at: http://extension.arizona.edu/pubs/vegetable-planting-calendar-maricopa-county. This publication has information on when to plant seeds and transplants of some of your favorite vegetables. Also, come on out and see what’s growing in our garden at the main office. Our Master Gardeners have been hard at work preparing the soil for the fall plantings. Our faculty and staff at the Roosevelt Early Childhood Family Resource Center have been busy with Baby Care workshops, Women’s Support

Group, and Story Time for Families. Stop by their location at The Roosevelt Early Childhood Family Resource Center, 4615 S. 22nd St. in Phoenix, AZ 85040 to see what’s new. Our 2016 Beginning Farmer Training Series began in October. The training consists of a 5-week program that builds beginning farmer/market gardener/rancher competencies through classroom and experiential learning. We also had a very successful 6th Annual Central Arizona Farmer Field Day at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Coordinated by our own Dr. Ayman Mostafa, the field day was filled with research and educational information for growers in Central AZ. There is a Brain Builders workshop scheduled for November; the workshop’s target audience is child care providers and early childhood teachers where participants receive a 16-hour continuing education certificate (https://extension.arizona.edu/brain-builders-life-maricopa-county-november-19-2016). Finally, don’t forget that Ag. Literacy Days are October 17th through December 16th. For more information on how you can help educate Arizona students about our connection to agriculture and the commodities produced on Arizona's lands, go to: http://cals.arizona.edu/agliteracy/AZ-Ag-Lit-Days. Since our next Newsletter is in January 2017, on behalf of the entire staff and faculty here at Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, thanks to everyone for their support during 2016 and may you all have a safe and happy holiday season!

MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Issue 14 5

AZ Agriculture Literacy Day When: Now through Dec. 16 Coordinated between volunteer & teacher Where: At an elementary school near you Contact: bmoak@cals.arizona.edu More Information: http://extension.arizona.edu/az-agricultural-literacy-days-october-17-december-16 Seed to Table Garden & Nutrition Classes When: November 9 5:00pm - 6:00pm Where: George Benjamin Brooks Community Ctr. More Information: https://extension.arizona.edu/seed-table-garden-

nutrition-classes Story Time for Families When: November 9 5:00pm - 6:30pm (Event is held every Wednesday) Where: Roosevelt Early Childhood Family Resource Center More Information: https://extension.arizona.edu/story-time-families STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math When: November 14 5:00pm - 6:30pm (Event is held every Monday) Where: Roosevelt Early Childhood Family Resource Center More Information: http://extension.arizona.edu/steam-science-technology-engineering-art-and-math Late Season Field Day When: November 16 9:00am - 11:00am Where: A Tumbling T Ranches More Information: https://extension.arizona.edu/late-season-field-day Roosevelt Family Resource Center Winter Festival When: December 14 3:00pm - 6:00pm Where: Roosevelt Early Childhood Family Resource Center More Information: https://extension.arizona.edu/roosevelt-family-resource-center-winter-festival 11th Annual Desert Turf School When: January 9 8:00am - 1:00pm Where: Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Application Deadline: December 1st More Information: http://extension.arizona.edu/11th-annual-desert-turf-school

ABOUT TOWN

Traci Armstrong Florian .................................... Nutrition/SNAP-Ed/EFNEP (602) 827-8237 tarmstro@cals.arizona.edu

Bryan Chadd………………………………………………. 4-H Youth Development (602) 827-8250 bchadd@cals.arizona.edu Kim Christman……………………………………………. 4-H Youth Development (602) 827-8291 kchristman@email.arizona.edu

Ed Martin ………………………………………………….. County Director/ANR/Water Resources (602) 827-8200 ecmartin@email.arizona.edu

Patty Merk ………………………………………………… Family and Youth (602) 827-8257 pmerk@cals.arizona.edu

Ayman Mostafa ................................................. Agriculture (602) 827-8213 ayman@cals.arizona.edu

Monica Pastor ................................................. Agricultural Literacy/Project CENTRL (602) 827-8217 mpastor@cals.arizona.edu

Rebecca Senior ................................................. Horticulture (602) 827-8276 rsenior@cals.arizona.edu

Kai Umeda ……. ................................................. Turfgrass Science (602) 827-8214 kumeda@cals.arizona.edu

Kelly Young …………………………………………………Horticulture/Agroecology (602) 827-8219 kyoung@cals.arizona.edu

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Associate Dean & Director, Extension & Economic Development, College of Agriculture Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Monthly Event Calendar http://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa

Check us out at: https://www.facebook.com/MaricopaCountyCooperativeExtension

Edited By: Edward Martin Amber Jones

Kaitlin Poe-Orsburn